About This Listing

With Airbnb, you can find unique accommodations in people's homes—from houses and apartments, to tree houses and igloos. The listing details below explain what you'll find in this space. If you have any questions, you can contact the host directly.

An Elegant Environmentally Benevolent Studio/Casita.
Vigilante en Español means many things - watchful, keeper, guardian, observant, attentive to details. And there are many details to observe in this unique guest house that is only 4 1/2 easy blocks from the Parroquia, the center of San Miguel. Along the way you can stroll through Parque Juarez and pause to enjoy the beautiful colonial architecture. Walking 10 minutes the other direction will lead you to fine dining, world class musicians, the Saturday Organic Farmer's Market and other small tiendas (stores) for groceries .
Lovely light streams through the thoughtfully appointed ground level Casita/studio apartment with private entrance. A set of French doors open onto your private patio leading to the surrounding garden/courtyard. It is furnished with a Very Comfortable Queen size bed, full closet and set of four built in drawers, a cozy sitting area with a fireplace (gas logs) and desk area, beautiful bathroom and a well equipped full kitchen with a counter and stool area for eating.
Always available: purified water; FREE WiFi, a limited amount of free local calls and unlimited long distance to the States.
Not available: cable TV
Other amenities include:
A welcome basket of fresh fruits, and snacks;
Fridge will have a starter supply of local/organic yogurt, butter, jam, a couple eggs, bread for toasting, coffee, juice;
DVD player;
Use of ecologically sensitive cleaning products;
For month or more stays - first four rolls of toilet paper;
I am happy to help you arrange for tours of the area, massages, available workshops, reservations for dining, show you where to hail a taxi (they are prolific and inexpensive);
Provide ideas about where to find work of local artisans and local attractions/festivals;
Bus/public transportation easily available - buses run continuously on Ancha de San Antonio to main destinations and transfer points - for about 5 pesos - see map for Ancha de San Antonio/Salida de Celaya. (Seems like a taxi is always driving by the house. They run about 30 pesos in town.)

Guest Room in my home… Sometimes I make the guest room in my home available for short stays (no more than 6 nights). For example if there are 3 people coming in your party and two are staying in one of the casitas (there is only room for 2 in the casita), and they would like the third friend to stay on the same property. My home is on the same property with a small patio between the two buildings. This is ONLY for short stays (6 or less nights) and as a convenience to you. So I have enclosed some photos of the guest room and it's private bath. They will have limited use of my kitchen and will need to clean up after themselves if they use dishes, etc. Please ask me about it's availability. This will be an additional charge of $42 a night which will be added on to the cost of the casita and won't be reflected in the cost that will show up on what Airbnb gives you at first. I will need to send in an alteration to reflect that charge and you will be asked by Airbnb to accept or decline. Similar to the cleaning/tax fee.
The Casita's space is basically all in one big room - like a studio apartment. When I took the photos of the Casita (not the Guest Room), I stood in one spot and turned around to take the photos of the kitchen, desk area, sitting area with fireplace, and the bed.

My home is on the back half of the property so I am usually there for anything that comes up (or have a house sitter if I am not). There is a garden that needs work so once a week or so there is a gardener on the property. But your space is private and your privacy will be respected.

Generally the casitas are available for stays of no longer than 2 months but please inquire about this and the cost.

Guest Access

Guests have access to the main garden/courtyard and the portico in front of my house. They also have their own private patio.
Guests have access to the Vonage line to call the states - no charge

The Neighborhood

Here is what I love about my neighborhood. Everything.

Getting around

Getting here. From Leon/BJX the very best way is to check out the shuttle called Bajiogo. They have a number you can call from the states and you can also use a credit card to book a reservation on line. They also have a shuttle to and from Queretaro and Mexico City. When you book I will send you a guest guide with all this information and how to get around town. It is a walking city and taxis are plentiful and not very expensive.

smoking off premises only
sorry no pets
a "guest guide" will be sent before arrival and again provided upon arrival for the "how to's and what's and where's and when's and why's.
Weekly and monthly prices may vary depending on season. E.G May, June, Dec. Jan. Feb.

*The cleaning fee listed is for a month's stay so it will need to be altered if your stay is for less than a month. (cleaning fee per week is $57 - this includes taxes). If you are staying for longer than 2 weeks we can negotiate if you want to do your own house keeping.
Provided by me are the first 4 rolls of toilet paper.
Since this is Mexico, sometimes appliances do not work the way they do in other places (eg the U. S). For example -the knob on for the oven -PLEASE read instructions.
Please let me know Immediately if you have no hot water (usually it is the pilot light that has, for some mysterious reason, gone out).
PLEASE remember to turn off the lights when leaving the room(s).
And if you are using the fireplace PLEASE remember to turn it off COMPLETELY (the black knob clockwise and the yellow lever behind the logs to the right - at right angles to the gas pipe) when you leave the room AND when not necessary.
Gracias

21 Reviews

We loved Barbara's casita! It's truly a magical place . Her home and garden reflect a true artists eye and we could easily have moved right in! She has created a lovely sanctuary and when you are done exploring the beautiful city of San Miguel, her casita is a serene place to come home to. She is a lovely person and her home reflects that spirit. We will surely be back. Many thanks, Barbara :)

We had the most delightful visit to SMA staying at Barbara's Casita.
Our basic needs were a comfortable bed, a quiet spot and good shower and those needs were certainly met. Beyond the basics there was our lovely host,Barbara, who was so gracious, welcoming and helpful. San Miguel is indeed an amazing and enchanting destination, but the comfort of the casita, the friendliness of Barbara and her adorable dog Joey were major highlights. We left
feeling so lucky to have been able to stay at the casita, get to know Barbara a bit, and to become familiar with SMA and the neighborhood of Parque Juarez. We would love to come back.

We stayed in Barbara’s casita in the downstairs flat, handsomely designed in the San Miguel style filled with artful and personal touches. The garden is a refreshing and meticulously tended green space just outside your accommodation.

Barbara is a gracious and thoughtful host who even stocks a day’s worth of groceries in your kitchen before you arrive. Her knowledge of the area is extremely helpful, and her “guest notes” about San Miguel are very useful — almost a guidebook to San Miguel in itself.

Nearly everything you might want to see around San Miguel is within a 10-minute walk or a $3 cab ride.

Barbara’s place makes San Miguel a five-star experience, and her reviews confirm it. We highly recommend Barbara’s El Jardín del Ciervo Vigilante for a memorable residents'-point-of-view experience of San Miguel de Allende.

The casita at El Jardin del Ciervo was an exquisite and uplifting refuge from all the excitement to be found in the streets of San Miguel. Barbara was a gracious, warm hostess and had great recommendations for events and places to dine. Her style and taste are reflected in the accomodations and suited us to a T. Everything functioned perfectly ( fabulous shower, fireplace, patio) and that is no small feat in Mexico! We couldn't have been more pleased!

Barbara greeted us with a warm smile and showed us her lovely garden/patio area as well as our private patio. We were taken to our casita and Barbara had made a gorgeous floral arrangement (from her garden) that greeted us on the counter; a fragrant candle was lit as were the floor lamps on either side of the comfy~looking, mosquito~netted "real bed". We were tired from traveling and wanted to collapse in the soothing environment Barbara created.
Barbara went over all the "details" we had previously received via e~mail; "updated" certain items and answered the few questions we had.
Yummy snacks were on the counter; some cheeses, papaya and delicious peanut butter were in the refrigerator.
The neighborhood was exactly what we were told it would be; quiet and calm, however close to "downtown" ~ walking distance.
Everything was perfect!
Muchas gracias Barbara ~

Barbara was a wonderful hostess. Kind, sweet, friendly, organized. A true free spirit. She made our stay in SMA welcoming and wonderful. The Casita is lovely, wonderful art, bed was comfortable, the shower hot, and almost everything we could need was provided for. The neighborhood is great, close to the Centro, safe, and beautiful.
I would totally recommend a stay, and we look forward to coming back next year!!!!

Barbara's casita was very comfortable. It is beautifully decorated, peaceful, and with all the comforts of home. It is within walking distance from Centro, Parque Juarez, and wonderful restaurants, but without the frenzy of activity and noise of Centro itself. Barbara is a lovely host. She provided plenty of information on San Miguel, how to get around, good restaurants, maps, whatever you need. I hope you will stay here and enjoy the truly charming ambiance.